Escapement mechanism for type-writers.



G. A. WIKANDER.

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISIVI FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9.1916.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

o LLI GUSTA-VUS A. WIKANDER, 0F PORTLAND, GREGON.

ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9,1918.

Application led November 9, 1916. Serial No. 130,463.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, GUsTAVUs A. VVIKAN- DER, a citizen of the' United States, and a resident'v of Portland, Multnomah county, State of Oregon, have invented a certain new andv useful improvement Vin Escape# ment Mechanism for Typed/Writers, of'

which the following isa specification.

This invention relates generally to typewriters and its purpose is to provide an iinproved escapenient mechanism by means'of which the typewriter will be made capable of operation at a higher rate of speed and with less manual effort on the part of theY operator.

Prior types of escapement mechanisms depend for their reaction upon the contraction of a spring placed under tension by the depression of a key. However, each time a key is depressed, the resisting action of said escapement spring imposes a labor upon the operator slight in itself, but sumniatively large. Furthermore, the action of the escapement mechanism spring is not entirely satisfactory, because it does not permit a fast operator `to work at highest speed. Speed in typewriting depends on the reaction or return of the escapement mechanism. v

The main objects of my invention are: to provide a typewriter escapement mechanism the return movement of which is not dependent upon the reaction of a stressed spring; also to provide improved means for operating the return movement of this escapeinent mechanism by which the work of such operation will be imposed upon a source of power, such as electric energy. A further object of my invention is to combine the' working elements of my improved mechanism in' an apparatusadapted for attachment to a typewriter of standard make.

T he accompanyingy drawing illustrates the general construction and operation of my device as applied to an Underwood typewriter.

The typewriter itself is illustrated in fragmental form, only such parts being shown as will define the location andiaction of the devices which are comprised in my invention. a, b and c are parallel base members of the typewriter frame, d is the platen roll, e the carriage, j' the carriage guide rod, g is the tape which `connects the spring with Jthe carriage, and h the carriage pinion rack. z' is a finger key lever pivoted at j; 7c is a bell-crank pivoted at m, and n is a type-bar pivoted on the bearing rod 0 in the rigid segment p. rlhe bell crank l@ forms the connecting element between the key-lever z' and type-bar n, so that when the key-lever'Y is' de'- pre'ssed, the type-bar will be operated, as' shownin' the broken lines of the drawing.

A. bracket g is" mounted on the' typewriter frame' members aand c, and said bracket is provided. with parallel pivot shafts 73,8. A shaft t, perpendicular to the shafts, 1"', s, issupported at the upper end of the bracket y, and the escapeinent ratchet u and pinion o are mounted on said shaft, the carriage rack L being engaged with the pinion o. A lever element 6 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 1, said lever element being provided at one end with a slot adapted to engage a pin 7, of a lever arm 8, the latterbeing fixed on a shaft 9. yThe latter element has no bearing on my invention and ismerely shown because of its presence as an integral part of the typewriter illustrated.

The pivoted pawls w and m are the pallets of the escapement mechanism, and their movement permits the spacing mechanism to act. The pawl operating frame g/ is horizontally movable, it is connected at its rear end to the pawl f@ and is provided witharms l0 which are pivoted to the upper end of the rock lever 6.

Atthe front of the frame 1/ isr a guide member a slidable in a slot of the segment p. The frame 1/ is provided with a member 2, known as a universal bar, adapted to be struck by a shoulder 3 on the type bar n just before the latter reaches the position shown in the broken lines of the drawing. The consequent movement of the frame fj to the position shown in the broken lines of thev drawing will rock the pawl w out of engagement with the ratchet u, and the pawl m into engagement with the same. Said movementl will also rock the member 6, throughV the arms l0, as obvious. Then, upon thereturn 0f the frame g/ to initial position, the escapement device will permit the pawls to operate so as to permit the ratchet to rotate one tooth, and thus space the carriage a corresponding distance. The frame y is provided with a Stud a. A fixed arm 5 projects from the bracket y. Ordinarily a tension coil spring (not shown) connects the stud 4 and arm 5, so that when the type bar throws the frame jz/ backward, the spring will be stressed, and the reaction of said spring will tend to return the parts to initial position, as above described. However, the stressing of the spring each time a type-bar is operated oi'ers a certain resistance which must be overcome by manual effort of the operator. The device of my invention has for its purpose to eliminate said spring entirely, and to substitute therefor an outside source of energy for doing the work ordinarily done by said spring. To this end I mount a bracket 11 on the rear of the typewriter. Supported on the bracket is an electro magnet 12. An armature 13 is pivoted on a shaft 14, and said armature is mounted on one arm of a pump handle lever 15, the other extremity ot' which lever is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lever 6 by a link 16. A bracket 17 supports an adjustable screw 18,which forms one member of an electric switch. A resilient arm 19 forms the other member of said switch. A finger 20, on the lever 15, ig adapted to bear against the resilient arm 19 whenever said lever 15 is rocked, and this cause said switch members 18 and 19 to contact and close the magnet circuit, of which 21 and 22 are the conductors and 23 is a battery, 0r other source of electric energy.

The general operation of my device is as follows; Y

Normally the parts are in the positions shown in the full lines of the drawing. 'Whenever a key is depressed the type-bar fn, will be actuated as shown. However, instead ot the escapement mechanism spring being stressed, as would be the case with ordinary types of such mechanism, there will be no resistance offered to the action eX- cept that ot' rocking the armature 13, and this rockingfmovement is so slight and the leverage so compounded that such resistance is negligible. As lthe armature is rocked,the switch member 19 will be moved so as to close the magnet circuit, whereupon the magnet will be energized, attracting the armature and causing said parts to be returned to initial position, and in so doing opening the electric switch. The action of the magnet is much more positive, quicker and energetic than that of the spring it replaces, and the result is, that in addition to relieving the operator of the work of operating the escapement mechanism, the type-bar and other parts will be kicked back into initial position much quicker, the spacing mechanism will work faster, and the general operation of the machine made faster and easier.

ating said pallets in one direction, of an'V electromagnet element and means operated thereby moving said pallets in the opposite direction, and a switch in the circuit of the electromagnet closed by the depression of a key and opened by the consequent movement of the armature of said magnet.

2. In a typewriter spacing mechanism, the combination of a ratchet wheel, a pivoted member carrying pallets adapted-to alternately engage such ratchet wheel, key-actuated type bars, means operated by the latter for moving Said pivoted member in one direction, an electromagnet element, means actuated thereby forl moving said pivoted member in the opposite direction, and a switch inthe circuit of the electromagnet closed by the depression of a key and opened by the consequent movement of the armature of said magnet.

3. In a typewriter spacing mechanism, the combination of a ratchet wheel, a pivoted member carrying pallets adapted to alternat'ely engage such ratchet wheel, key-actuated type bars, means operated by the latter for moving said pivoted member, an electromagnet, a pivoted armature therefor provided with a projecting arm, a connection between this arm and said pivoted member, a make-and-break in the circuit of said magnet operated by the movement 0f said arm oi' the armature, whereby the movement of said arm in one'direction closes said circuit, and the reverse movement of said arm, due to the energizing of said magnet,.breaks said circuit again.

L1. In a typewriter escapement mechanism the combination with the palletelement of said mechanism and key-controlled mechanism operating such pallet element in one direction, of an electromagnet element and means operated thereby for operating said pallet element in the opposite direction, and a switch in the circuit of the electromagnet closed in time with the actuation of a type bar of the type-writer and opened in time with the movement of the armature of said magnet when the circuit of the latter is closed. Y

G. A. WIKANDER.

Copies o! this patent may be obtained for ive cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of YPatente Washington, D. C. 

